Bergerac: All The Sad Songs (BBC-1 4 Mar 1990, with Gary Bond)

In All The Sad Songs the Bureau is on the trail of a counterfeiter who is flooding the island with fake tenners. Meanwhile fading singer Tony Hubbard is on the island playing a season at one of the islands less salubrious clubs The Golden Peacock. In the early sixties Hubbard was the male half of a popular double act with singer Dawn Grey who has now retired to island life married to prominent businessman Nichlolas Wolfe (a friend of Charlie’s naturally).

After performing with Dawn (somewhat against both of their wishes it has to be said) and then trying it on a liitle too forcefully with the much younger Suzy Birchet (who is also on tour with Tony) a drunken Hubbard is almost run over by Jim on his way home. Jim gives him a lift home. The next morning Hubbard is found shot dead in his apartment.

In a nice twist it turns out that it is Tony who is able to provide Jim with the clue he needs to solve the counterfeiting case too after he casually reveals that nightclub boss Howard has a safe full of chocolate bars.

Things are stepping up a pace for Jim and Danielle too, she has arrived on the island to visit him (having had a row with her father in the process).

The role of Tony Hubbard in this episode of Bergerac was Gary Bond’s last film or TV appearance. He had been a very popular stage, screen and TV star for much of the previous three decades and was a partner of Jeremy Brett for many years. He died in 1995 from an AIDs related illness.

Another excellent Rod Beacham episode and one of only two at this stage that had not featured Liza Goddard as Philippa Vale. Besides the fab Gary Bond there are also appearances from the always good value James Booth and Diane Langton.

production details
UK / BBC One / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Sunday 4 March 1990 at 7.45pm

Writer: Rod Beacham / Director: Tim Fywell

Series: Bergerac Season 8 Episode 8

cast
John Nettles as Det Sgt Jim Bergerac
John Telfer as Willy Pettit
David Kershaw as Ben Lomas
Gary Bond as Tony Hubbard
Julia Ford as Suzy Birchet
Dinesh Shukla as Aziz
Peter Attard as Eddy Neptune
James Booth as Nicholas Wolfe
Diane Langton as Dawn Wolfe
Terence Alexander as Hungerford
Therese Liotard as Danielle Aubry
James Hayes as Joey
Rod Culbertson as Howard
Peter Martin as Harris
Bobby Bragg as Bobby Bush
Jeff Nuttall as Doctor